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Grey Currawong
(Strepera versicolor)
: "Grey Crow-shrike", "Grey Magpie", "Bell Magpie", "Grey Bell-magpie",
"Rain-bird",
"Squeaker"
Click here for more names
(Includes "Clinking Currawong", "Black-winged Currawong" and
"Brown Currawong")
Aboriginal name(s): "cur-ow-ung"
[awaba],
"kirriwong"
[birbai],
"wati-eri" [ramindjeri], "kiling-kildi" (lower Murray), "koolardi";
Race "plumbea":
"djilok", "bela", "bali", "bil", "djabin" (WA)
Size: 44-57 cm; wing span 75-80 cm
Weight: 350 g (average);
race
"arguta" up to 440 g
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Similar species |
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Physical description |
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Click here for a physical description
Grey Currawongs are large predatorial birds.
Their plumage
is grey to dark-grey almost throughout, except for minor deviations.
These and the base colour depend on race.
All races have a white rump and undertail coverts and a white
terminal band on the tail.
Race
"versicolor" is lightest-grey and has some white edge lining
on the flight feathers. Race "arguta" is the darkest
grey, with wing spots, while race "melanoptera" is dark-grey
without wing spots.
Race "intermedia" sits in between "arguta" and "melanoptera".
As the name already suggests, race "plumbea" is leaden-grey.
The eyes of all races have striking yellow irises.
The long, strong, hooked bill is near-black. The legs and feet
are dark-grey.
Juveniles
are a bit duller and browner than adults and they have
the light-coloured (creamy) characteristic gape for several
months and their irises start off dark and become successively
brighter.
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Taxonomy, classification |
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See Grey
Currawong at Wikipedia .
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Range, habitat, finding this species |
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Click here for information on habitat
and range
The overall distribution of this species can be assessed based
on sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to
ebird.org
.
The global distribution of the Grey Currawong is available
HERE
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There are in total six races of Grey Currawongs, all of which
are endemic to Australia. Formerly, several of them were treated
as separate species. Their total range is restricted to the
southern half of the continent and Tasmania.
The range of nominate race "versicolor"
extends from the Hunter River, NSW, along the South-East coast of
Australia and the adjacent hills of the Great Dividing Range to the
VIC/SA border in the West.
West of the VIC/SA border (and in the lower Murray catchment) race
"melanoptera" is present. Its range extends as far westward as Port
Augusta, SA, and is limited northward, towards the red centre,
along an East-West line roughly 100-200 km South of Broken Hill, NSW.
Kangaroo Island has its own race of Grey Currawongs, race "halmaturina".
Along the SA coast to the West of Port Augusta, including Eyre Peninsula,
and up to a few hundred km inland, race "intermedia" exists.
Race "plumbea" inhabits about
the southern third of WA (with the exception of the Nullarbor),
plus the north-western corner of SA and the border region with
the south-western NT.
Race "arguta"
is found only in the eastern half of Tasmania.
The different races of Grey Currawongs have various preferences
for their habitats, ranging from open forest and woodland via mallee,
heath, to
farmland
and the outskirts of urban
areas.
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Sightings |
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Click here for sighting information
Race "versicolor"
R. Plumtree reports
spotting a Grey Currawong, race "versicolor", on the
Tongio Gap Road, South of Omeo, East Gippsland, VIC, in April 2014,
and another on the Morass Creek Road, Ensay North, in September 2015.
Another was found at Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East
Gippsland, VIC, in July 2018, and another at the same location in
September 2019.
Race "plumbea"
J. Greaves reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "plumbea", at Mundaring,
35 km East of Perth, WA, in December 2014.
Race "arguta"
B. Hensen reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "arguta" (the "Clinking
Currawong"), close to Peter Merrill Reserve near Kinston, TAS, in
March 2016.
Race "halmaturina"
J. Greaves reports spotting a Grey Currawong, race "halmaturina", at
American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, in March 2016.
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Photos |
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Race "versicolor"
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ADULT |
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Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of
R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]
Frontal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of
R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]
Lateral view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of
R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of
R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of
R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
Dorsal view of a Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Morass Creek Road, Ensay North, East Gippsland, VIC, September 2015]
Race "plumbea"
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ADULT |
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Partly obscured lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo
courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]
Lateral portrait of a Grey Currawong hiding in darkness (photo
courtesy of J. Greaves)
[Mundaring, 35 km East of Perth, WA, December 2014]
Race "arguta"
This race is also called the "Clinking Currawong".
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ADULT |
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Lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Merrill Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]
Lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Merrill Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]
Grey Currawong in low flight, displaying the characteristic
pattern with grey-streaked and grey-tipped flight feathers
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Merrill Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]
Direct comparison of a Grey Currawong, front, with a Forest Raven, back
(photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Near Peter Merrill Reserve, near Kingston, TAS, March 2016]
Race "halmaturina"
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ADULT |
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Near-lateral view of an adult Grey Currawong (photo courtesy of J. Greaves)
[American River, Kangaroo Island, SA, March 2016]
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Food, Diet |
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Near-dorsal view of a Grey Currawong swallowing what looks
like a dry pellet (photo courtesy of R. Plumtree)
[Sheep Station Creek, near Swifts Creek, East Gippsland, VIC, July 2018]
These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our
contributors.
The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species
please refer to a field guide.